2019 Conference Session Times and Descriptions

These are subject to change.

Wednesday Workshop Descriptions (1:15 pm – 2:30 pm) 

The Golden Rules of Health Care & Housing Support Budgets
Juli Daniels & Jennifer Vall, DHS Health Care Trainers
A joint review of Health Care and Housing Support budgets during times of transition from a Long-Term Care Facility to a Housing Support setting. Highlighting allowable deductions such as remedial care, spousal allocation and income.

The Journey through Addiction
MN Adult & Teen Challenge

Staff from MN Adult & Teen Challenge will bring clients for their personal testimony. In addition to their stories, we will share about where the clients are at in their journey of addiction and how MN Adult & Teen Challenge can meet the needs of those seeking treatment. The different levels of our long term treatment and benefits. What is MN Adult & Teen Challenge doing for Substance Use Disorder and MN Statute 245G and resources that are being developed.

The Minnesota Legislative Process
Ryan Johnson, DHS Legislative and Policy Lead

Join me for a discussion about how the Minnesota legislative process works, especially as it relates to public assistance programs. This session will also provide an opportunity to provide feedback on ideas being considered by the DHS Economic Assistance and Employment Supports Division related to SNAP, MFIP and programs funded through the Office of Economic Opportunity for the 2020 legislative season and beyond.

Servicing Clients Across Cultural Differences
Veronica Mitchell, MA, DHS Director of Equity & Inclusion

Participants learn approaches in working effectively across cultural differences. This session explores how explicit and implicit bias impact practice. The session also presents the intercultural development continuum and the descriptive orientations of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). This learning experience informs participants on methods to foster and maintain a diverse and inclusive client relationship while serving the people of Minnesota.



DWP 101
Andrea Magalis & Tim Hawkins, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

An overview presentation of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). We will be going over the work focused components of the program as well as grant calculations and transitioning off the program.

SNAP Errors: Oops!…I Did It Again
Andre Magadan & Michelle James, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

Wednesday Workshop Descriptions (3:00 pm – 4:15 pm)  

The Golden Rules of Health Care & Housing Support Budgets
Juli Daniels & Jennifer Vall, DHS Health Care Trainers

A joint review of Health Care and Housing Support budgets during times of transition from a Long-Term Care Facility to a Housing Support setting. Highlighting allowable deductions such as remedial care, spousal allocation and income.

SNAP: ABAWDS
Sarah Podritz & Rachel Jung, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

This presentation will provide SNAP policy information specific to ABAWDS (Able Bodied Adults without Dependents). This includes the ABAWD determination process, regaining eligibility, the second 3 month period and banked months.

Servicing Clients Across Cultural Differences
Veronica Mitchell, MA, DHS Director of Equity & Inclusion
Participants learn approaches in working effectively across cultural differences. This session explores how explicit and implicit bias impact practice. The session also presents the intercultural development continuum and the descriptive orientations of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI). This learning experience informs participants on methods to foster and maintain a diverse and inclusive client relationship while serving the people of Minnesota.

Title IV-E
Debbie Retterath, Paula Katzenmeyer, Deb Miller & Deb Trotter, DHS Title IV-E Eligibility Determination Trainers

Learn all the necessary data, paperwork and documentation required to accurately claim Title IV-E for foster care placements. Learn to accurately complete paperwork, document AFDC eligibility, enter data in MAXIS and review the data within SSIS.

What’s New with the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)?
Stacia Rosas, Allison Despotes-Tourdot & Andrea Lentini, DHS CCAP Policy

The 2019 Legislature adopted many changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). These changes focused on federal compliance, program improvements, increased transparency and program integrity. In this session, DHS staff will give a high level overview of the legislative changes with a focus on program integrity changes. We will also share exciting new ideas for how the Child Care Assistance Program can better serve children and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

Groovin’ with your SNAP Reviews!
Lori Bona, DHS Payment Accuracy Coordinator & Laura Ellis, SNAP Quality Assurance Supervisor

Is your SNAP error rate high? Are you not sure how and where errors are cited? Do you want to improve the integrity of the SNAP program at your agency? If you answered yes to any of these questions then this session is for you! This session will focus on Quality Control and SNAP Management Evaluation reviews and how to prevent errors from being cited.

Thursday Workshop Descriptions (8:45 am – 10:00 am)

Housing Support (GRH) and MFIP Eligibility
Ben Magnuson, DHS Housing Support Trainer

This presentation explains how households can be eligible for Housing Support and MFIP concurrently. We will walk you through eligibility requirements for MFIP and verification guidelines for HS. We will review a few cases and explain the benefit calculations for both programs. The object of this presentation is to better understand how both programs work with one another and how benefits are calculated.

METS: Understanding Income Verifications
Michael Murray & Bryan McInerny, DHS Health Care Trainers

Do you get sweaty palms and break into a cold sweat when METS flags for Income Verification? This session will go through specific examples of Income Verifications including wages, self-employment, and farm income and will review tax forms. The session will be interactive with case examples and hands on activities to review.

MFIP Child Support Sanctions & New Spouse Income Review
Michelle James & Sarah Podritz, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

This session will refresh your memory with the importance of processing child support sanctions timely and how to do so in the MAXIS system. It will also guide you through NSI policy to ensure newly married clients receive full advantage of its benefits.

Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT)
Bob Ries, DHS Agency Policy Specialist

The session will review Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT), the related ancillary services and the level-of-service (LOS) assessment. Included will be information on policies and procedures, thoughts and considerations for possible “best practice” and “what if” scenarios. Discussion includes factors for completing the LOS assessment and the coordination, delivery, reimbursement to the individual(s)/provider(s)/ and billing MHCP/DHS for NEMT and the related ancillary services.

Good Day, GA!
John Petroskas, DHS GA Policy & Andre Magadan, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainer

Wake up with your favorite morning hosts and learn about problem areas and common questions concerning the General Assistance (GA) program.

Greater Minnesota’s Law Enforcement Response to Human Trafficking
Investigator Marc Chadderdon, Nicollet County Sheriff’s Department

This session shares information on Greater Minnesota’s collaboration to fight sex trafficking, between law enforcement, prosecutors and regional resources such as navigators, shelters, advocates and government employees. This presentation contains actual recent research and data of prostitution stings, using the media to our advantage and educating the public in Minnesota on the topic of sexual exploitation.

Thursday Workshop Descriptions (10:30 am – 11:45 am)

TANF Work Participation Rate Documentation Reviews
Emily Lodermeier, DHS MFIP Policy Team & Andrea Magalis, DHS
Instructional Design Training Team Trainer
This presentation is meant to give you a better understanding of what TANF Case File Reviews are about. We will discuss what the WPR (Work Participation Rate) is, how we conduct the case file reviews and what role you can play in helping with the WPR.

Let’s Get Groovin’ with Non-MAGI
Heather Holbrook & Khoua Xiong, DHS Health Care Trainers

This session will cover general Non-MAGI education including how Non-MAGI referrals are generated and how to process Non-MAGI referrals and tasks (migration from METS to MAXIS). We will also touch on special circumstances with FCA folks that are housed in MAXIS.

De-Escalation: Creating Connection in Crisis
Russ Turner, People Incorporated Training Institute Director

This session explores the nature of upset encounters with people and discusses common mistakes that people make in attempting to diffuse them. Begin by learning about the neurology of crises and the appropriate responses to calm the situation. It begins with “checking oneself” and establishing good control of one’s nonverbal communication and a reflective toolbox of verbal responses. This session is applicable to anyone who works with people, especially in a helping role.

MAXIS Claims 101
Rachel Jung, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainer & Scott Wotzka, DHS Treasury Offset Program

This presentation will provide information about MAXIS claims. We will discuss claims policy and view how to enter claims in MAXIS. We will cover error prone areas and some tips to help workers reduce errors.

Welfare Fraud 101
Preston Cowing, Brown County Welfare Fraud Investigator/Collections Officer

Public assistance and its requirements have changed greatly since Welfare Reform in the mid 1990’s. AFDC cash entitlement has been replaced by MFIP, DWP, housing grants and work requirements to receive cash assistance. The Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP) has expanded its role in welfare to work. After a decade of public assistance roles decreasing, the numbers have increased since the start of the great recession in 2008. Eligibility requirements have been loosened up or eliminated completely over the last several years for the SNAP and MA programs. The introduction of METS and online applications without an interview has become an acceptable way to receive public assistance. What have all these changes meant to welfare fraud? This presentation is a basic overview of welfare fraud from the perspective of small and midsized county investigators. This is meant to be an interactive presentation with audience participation leading the presenter to specific areas of interest. Case studies if time allows.

Greater Minnesota’s Law Enforcement Response to Human Trafficking
Investigator Marc Chadderdon, Nicollet County Sheriff’s Department

This session shares information on Greater Minnesota’s collaboration to fight sex trafficking, between law enforcement, prosecutors and regional resources such as navigators, shelters, advocates and government employees. This presentation contains actual recent research and data of prostitution stings, using the media to our advantage and educating the public in Minnesota on the topic of sexual exploitation.

Thursday Workshop Descriptions (1:15 pm – 2:30 pm)

MSA Hot Dish
Tim Hawkins & Andre Magadan, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers & John Petroskas, DHS GA Policy

Cozy up with a heaping helping of everyone’s favorite side and learn about the problem areas and common questions concerning the MSA program. Note: Actual hot dish not provided.

Welfare Fraud Round Table Discussion
Preston Cowing, Brown County Welfare Fraud Investigator/Collections Officer

This will be a group discussion on welfare fraud and eligibility issues and concerns which Minnesota Fraud Investigators and Eligibility Workers face on a daily basis. The format may consist of a moderator and timer if necessary to ensure each topic has a specific time limit and the topic discussion stays focused. Some of the topics will be determined at the conference, while other topics may be pre-determined by questions asked prior to conference. The goal of this training is to have members participate in a format which allows everyone a chance to share information. This is not meant to be a complaint session, but an interactive training tool to draw on the years of expertise present in our efforts to fight fraud, waste and abuse of public benefits.

De-Escalation: Creating Connection in Crisis
Russ Turner, People Incorporated Training Institute Director

This session explores the nature of upset encounters with people and discusses common mistakes that people make in attempting to diffuse them. Begin by learning about the neurology of crises and the appropriate responses to calm the situation. It begins with “checking oneself” and establishing good control of one’s nonverbal communication and a reflective toolbox of verbal responses. This session is applicable to anyone who works with people, especially in a helping role.

What’s New with the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP)?
Stacia Rosas, Allison Despotes-Tourdot & Andrea Lentini, DHS CCAP Policy

The 2019 Legislature adopted many changes to the Child Care Assistance Program (CCAP). These changes focused on federal compliance, program improvements, increased transparency and program integrity. In this session, DHS staff will give a high level overview of the legislative changes with a focus on program integrity changes. We will also share exciting new ideas for how the Child Care Assistance Program can better serve children and families experiencing homelessness or housing insecurity.

The Stack of the Deck: An Illustration of the Root Causes of Poverty
Joel Dickinson & Sarah Podritz, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

During this session, we will work through an interactive simulated poverty exercise. It will provide attendees with a better understanding of what your clients may be going through. There are going to be some tough decisions that will have to be made and you will need to decide what your values are. Economic stability is difficult to establish and maintain!

METS: Understanding Income Verifications
Michael Murray & Bryan McInerny, DHS Health Care Trainers

Do you get sweaty palms and break into a cold sweat when METS flags for Income Verification? This session will go through specific examples of Income Verifications including wages, self-employment, and farm income and will review tax forms. The session will be interactive with case examples and hands on activities to review.

Thursday Workshop Descriptions (3:00 pm – 4:15 pm)

DWP 101
Andrea Magalis & Tim Hawkins, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

An overview presentation of the Diversionary Work Program (DWP). We will be going over the work focused components of the program as well as grant calculations and transitioning off the program.

Internet Safety & Cyber Bullying

Investigator Marc Chadderdon, Nicollet County Sheriff’s Department

This is an overview of internet safety and cyber bullying that our youth and parents are susceptible to on a daily basis. The presentation covers several apps used by youth which are ever-changing such as Snapchat, Tumblr, Whisper and many more. We will also cover the consequences and legal ramifications of cyber bullying and shoes active cases including local cases where people are held legally accountable for their actions online. There will also be information parents and professionals who work with at risk youth should know such as how to obtain a legal restraining order or harassment order. What is sextortion and/or blackmail? What would you do if a youth came to you and asked you for advice on how to handle bullying online? Hopefully, I can give you some answers!

CASE/NOTE
Rachel Jung & Michelle James, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

The good, the bad and the ugly. Join us for a session on how to write a great CASE/NOTE that includes all the necessary information.

CAF 101
Erin Kunzman, Anoka County Economic Assistance Program Coordinator/Quality Assistance

Do you ever wonder what the questions on the Combined Application Form (CAF) really mean? This session is designed for Case Aides who assist clients in applying for public assistance programs. We will go over the form, what Financial Workers are looking for, verifications that are needed and some very basic program information. This session is available to help answer questions and assist clients as they apply for or renew cash assistance and SNAP.

The Stack of the Deck: An Illustration of the Root Causes of Poverty
Joel Dickinson & Sarah Podritz, DHS Instructional Design Training Team Trainers

During this session, we will work through an interactive simulated poverty exercise. It will provide attendees with a better understanding of what your clients may be going through. There are going to be some tough decisions that will have to be made and you will need to decide what your values are. Economic stability is difficult to establish and maintain!

Let’s Get Groovin’ with Non-MAGI
Heather Holbrook & Khoua Xiong, DHS Health Care Trainers

This session will cover general Non-MAGI education including how Non-MAGI referrals are generated and how to process Non-MAGI referrals and tasks (migration from METS to MAXIS). We will also touch on special circumstances with FCA folks that are housed in MAXIS.



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